“I have to thank him. I scored the goals but he is the man responsible for them.”

Uruguay still face a tall order to qualify for the knockout stages because of their opening defeat and Oscar Tabarez’s side know they must beat Italy in a win-or-bust final group match on Tuesday.

Suarez said: “The victory over England is crucial. It was a difficult match against a tough rival. England are a strong team. But we have not qualified and we must keep our feet on the ground for the next game.”

While Suarez’s scoring instinct in front of goal proved a nightmare for England his latest high-profile display of predatory power will also have filled Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers with a renewed sense of dread.

The Anfield gaffer knows his striker is now the hottest property in football and his heroics against England will only reinforce the desire of other clubs to get their hands on Suarez – with Barcelona the latest side to join the race to sign him.

Liverpool faced a struggle to hold on to Suarez last summer when Arsenal tried to trigger his release clause with a £40million bid that unsettled the player.

Now Barcelona, like their Spanish rivals Real Madrid, have set their sights on landing the striker.

Suarez signed a new, lucrative, long-term deal at Anfield in December that ties him to Liverpool until 2018 but the Catalans are convinced there is another buy-out clause in the Uruguayan’s contract.

Barcelona believe they can prise Suarez away from Anfield by offering a massive hike in his £200,000 a week wages and want him as the focal point of their rebuilding plans under new boss Luis Enrique.

The Nou Camp gaffer believes Suarez will form a formidable front three alongside Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Real Madrid have also sounded out Suarez’s agent Pere Guardiola and they too reckon they can tempt him to Spain this summer.

That means that, after fighting off the Gunners’ interest last year, the Reds are braced for another Suarez summer transfer saga.

Liverpool are banking on the lure of Champions League football to keep their prize asset.

However, Suarez has failed to win any silverware since joining from Ajax in 2011 and the chance to play for one of the big two in Spain may see him try to force through a move.

Reports in Spain claim the player is already in talks with Barca about a switch to the Nou Camp.

The Spanish press say there is a release clause of £68m in Suarez’s last contract but this is reduced to £52m if Barcelona or Real Madrid come calling and Suarez is seen as a bargain buy at that price by both clubs.